National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jonathan Sammut got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd minute Roy Makaay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonardo Da Vinci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Croatia's Nebojša Jerić got control of the ball when Jonathan Sammut tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 8 minutes Croatia's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Neil Degabriele who took care of the corner kick. Nebojša Jerić made a fantastic save in the 12th minute, when Jonathan Sammut sent off a good shot on target. Nebojša Jerić made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Jonathan Sammut sent off a good shot on target. 17 minutes into the match, Croatia's Roy Makaay sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Leonardo Da Vinci narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 18th minute Roy Makaay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonardo Da Vinci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Croatia's defense didn't have a chance, in the 21st minute, when Thomas Dalli scored to the left of an out of position Nebojša Jerić, making the score, 1-0. Leonardo Da Vinci showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Roy Makaay in the 26th minute of the match. Nebojša Jerić made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Jonathan Sammut sent off a good shot on target. Leonardo Da Vinci made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roy Makaay in the 36th minute of play. In the 38th minute, Roy Makaay got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Jonathan Sammut could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 42nd minute of the match, but Nebojša Jerić made a huge save. The audience was convinced that Jonathan Sammut's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nebojša Jerić was relentless in the 43rd minute of the game. After having played for 45 minutes, Jonathan Sammut managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Malta's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jonathan Sammut was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Roy Makaay to strike the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Jonathan Sammut came free, but Nebojša Jerić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Neil Degabriele made a great header on Malta's corner, it was just that Croatia's Nebojša Jerić managed to reach the ball for a save. Evan Vancell hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. If Roy Makaay had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nebojša Jerić showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Thomas Dalli, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. After 73 minutes of play, Croatia's Roy Makaay made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Leonardo Da Vinci was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Giuseppe Preca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Nebojša Jerić showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Giuseppe Preca in the 80th minute of the match. Leonardo Da Vinci made an important save on a dangerous shot by Roy Makaay in the 82nd minute. In the 91st minute, Neil Degabriele hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 95th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Harry Maguire to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Croatia getting a freekick after 98 minutes play. Harry Maguire hit a great ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Croatia eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.